Thread: Eccentrics & Antagonists...

Why wouldn't it?

They might be contracting but not actively attempting to cause movement. Sort of like an isometric contraction to, perhaps, assist in stabilizing the joint. They wouldn't concentrically contract, because if they did that bar would be coming down fast in a bench.

Exactly.

I just wanted to shed some light onto the fact that say, a bench, why IT is a full body movement...well almost 'full.'

Ive been doing slow negatives in my latest workouts (4-5 sec negative), but I dont use a heavy weight that I need a spot for the concentric. Rumor has it, a typical person is stronger on the eccentric, but I am not going for max numbers here.

In any case, on my PUSH day, my posterior deltoid was sore. Its never sore from benching and overhead pressing. Had to be cuz of the added tension times.

The antagonist should be shut down via reciprocal inhibition, but if the antagonist provides some form of stability to the joint and a force is generated in a direction that would activate it, it would do so. IMO, performing an eccentric with intended instability or movement in a non-intended plane could increase stability at that joint. I almost wonder if non-contact injuries in sport are a result of not activating the stabilizer more quickly during an eccentric action.

So, to answer your question, it depends.

Great.